Wiring device



June 16, 1936. E. GRANT 2,044,291

' WIRING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 INVENTOR '7 41%;; E. Granf Jme w, was. A E, RANT 2,044,291

WIRING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'i'OR HE Z E. firm 2% Patented June 16, 1936 UNl'i'E WIRING Albert E. Grant, New Y DEVICE ork, N. Y., assignor to 4 Claims.

My invention relates to wiring devices and a principal object of my invention is to provide an improved lamp socket of economical design having a sturdy, adjustable built-in switch mechanism which shall be smooth and positive in operation and comprise a minimum of parts, thus reducing the number of manufacturing and assembly operations necessary for the production of such devices.

Another object is to provide an improved wiring device of this character comprising a moulded casing shell having a transverse partition wall and a post or pillar extending from said wall to form the supporting axis of a built-in switch mechanism.

A further object is to provide an improved wiring device comprising a casing shell of moulded insulating material having grooves or slots formed in the walls thereof to support, retain and substantially insulate the conductors of the device. Other and further objects will appear from the following specification.

Referring to the drawings: iFigure 1 is a Vertical elevation of a lamp socket embodying the features of my invention, the cap portion being broken away to disclose one of the binding terminals.

Figure 2 is a vertical section thru the device taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

30, Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. V

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device with the cap removed.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5. of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a vertical elevation of the device showing the cap portion of the casing unscrewed and elevated above the casing to illustrate the manner in which the device is wired.

Figure 8 is a partial section of the casing, similarjto Figure 2, from which the parts have been removed.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an inverted plan view of the switch rotor with the conducting switch member mounted thereon.

Figure 11 shows a plan view of the s and Fig. 1111 shows a side elevation of the switch reel.

Figure 12 is an elevation of the 'coil spring of the switch.

witch reel,

The casing for the device comprises a shell 20 of insulating material, such as Bakelite, and a bell-shaped cap portion 2! adapted to be threaded over the upper end of the shell. The cap is provided with a central opening in its top to receive lead wires 22-22 and an integral partition wall 23 divides the shell into an upper chamber 24 and a lower chamber 25. The walls on opposite sides of the chamber 24 are moulded to define vertical key-shaped slots at 2626 to receive metal strip conductors 21 and 28, respectively, which extend upwardly from the partition wall into the cap where they are bent inwardly and, together with screws 2929, provide the binding terminals of the device. The lower ends of the conductors are also bent inwardly and secured to the partition wall by rivets or eyelets 2'! and 28 respectively.

From the description thus far it will be noted that the conductors are rigidly supported and held against bending o-r warp by the casing walls and that the binding terminals formed by their upper free ends are readily accessible for wiring when the cap is removed, as best illustrated in Figure 7.

The conducting rivet 2'! extends thru the partition wall and secures a tubular threaded lamp contact 40 in the lower lamp socket chamber, thus completing one side of a circuit thru the device. 30

The upper side of the partition wall 23 supports a central vertical post or pillar 30 which is moulded integral with the wall and provides the supporting axis of the built-in rotating switch mechanism. The pillar is of increased diameter adjacent its base to provide a shelf 3|, the table of which is circular and moulded to define a fourpoint face cam. A 'conductor32, shaped as shown in Figure 5, is secured by the. rivet 28' in contact with the lower end of conductor 28 and is bent to overlie one of the sectors of the cam. A similarly shaped conductor 33 overlies the opposite cam sector and is secured to the partition wall by a conducting rivet 34 which also secures a central lamp contact 35 to the opposite sideof the partition in the lower chamber. The conductors 32 and 33 are adapted to be bridged by a switch member 31 carried by a rotor 36 and, when so bridged, 'both sides of a circuit thru the device are completed.

The conducting switch member 31 is a circular ring as shown in Figure 10, and the rotor is stepped and recessed to receive it. Integral with opposite inner margins of the ring are tongues 31' 3'I' which are bent to overlie opposite sectors of a four point cam formed on the lowermost face of the rotor which is complemental to the cam formed on the shelf SI of pillar 39.

The upper face of the rotor is recessed to provide detents 38-38 etc. for engagement by the ratchet teeth 42 struck from the margins of a circular reel 4! carried on the pillar. The reel has an angular flange 43 to which an actuator chain 44 is secured, the chain extending between the flange and the upper face of the rotor and thence outwardly thru the casing wall where it is guided by a short lipped tube 45 secured to the casing as shown. A drive screw or bolt 48 is secured in the upper end of the pillar 30 and is formed square or angular immediately below its head to retain a nut 49 having a square or angular hole. Anchored in the nut is one end of a coil spring 50 which surrounds the pillar and is confined and compressed between the nut and the rQQl, the lower end of the spring abutting the flange 4.3 Qf the reel.

To make or break the circuit, the chain is drawn down in the usual manner to rotate the ratcheting reel against the resistance of spring 50 and thus drive the rotor and its switch member a quarter turn. In turning, the rotor and the reel ride upward on the pillar against the compression resistance of the spring while climbing the peaks of the cam. When the peaks have been passed, the reel and rotor are forced back by the reciprocal movement of the compressed spring, thus providing the desirable snap action, and the reel and its chain are returned by the torque of the unwinding spring.

The resistance of the spring 50 may be adjusted by turning the nut 49 in relation to the bolt. This is accomplished by forcing the nut downwardly on the bolt to its round diameter, whereupon the nut may be relocked under the bolt head.

I have found this construction most economical, involving fewer parts and fewer manufacturing and assembly operations than other switch mechanisms of this type. All parts are well insulated and, because of the economical utilization of the space within the casing, I am enabled to employ larger and sturdier switch parts without increasing the dimensions of the casing. In wiring and adjusting, the binding terminals and switch adjustment are easily accessible and, in use, the switch action is smooth, rapid and positive.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A lamp socket comprising a shell of insulating material having an integral partition wall formed therein dividing the shell into an upper and a lower chamber, said shell having a plurality of key-shaped grooves formed in the interior side. of the walls thereof and extending from the top of the shell toward said partition wall, a circular periphery cam moulded integral with the upper side of said wall, an integral pillar extending perpendicular to said wall in the upper chamber centrally of said cam, strip conductors extending from above the top of the shell through said grooves whereby the conductors are retained and substantially insulated, the upper ends of said conductors being free and inwardly bent, binding terminals carried on the upper ends of said conductors, a e ovable can car i d on the upper end of said shell, said cap having an opening therein to admit wires to said binding termipals, lamp contacts carried in the lower chamber, and means for connecting said conductors with said contacts, one of said means comprising switch contacts overlying opposite sectors of said cam and a switch for bridging said switch contacts rotatable on said pillar, and means extending exteriorly of the shell for actuating the w t h,

2. A lamp socket comprising a casing having n. n ral t ans r e connect n wall, a o ta t a i d b the casi g t one side of. said wa l a pillar ext ndi ithin he. cas ng from th other sid f aid w ll to the u per end t ereof a d ormed inte al therewith, conductin 7 mea s ex ndin th ou h said wal or connect on h said contac sa d m ans omprisin sw tch co tacts and a switch rotatable on said pillar for bridging said switch contacts, and means extending exteriorly of the casing for actuating said switch.

7 3. A lamp socket comprising a casing of insua ins ma r havin a integra parti ion wall o med therein d vid n th ea i g into. an up r and a lower chamber and a circular periphery cam moulded integral with the upper side of said wall, an integral pillar extending perpendicular to said wall in the upper chamber centrally of said cam, lamp contacts carried in the lower chamber, conducting means for connecting to said contacts and extending into. the upper chamber and wire binding terminals in the upper chamber connected to. said conducting; means, one of said means comprising switch contacts, overlying opposite sectors of said cam and a switchfor bridging said switch contacts rotatable on said pillar, and means extending exterior-1y of the casing for actuating said switch.

4. A lamp socket comprising a casingshellof moulded insulatingmaterial having an integral transverse connecting wall, a pillar moulded integral withone side of said wall and extending within the shell to form the axis of a rotatable switch mechanism, a circular periphery cam moulded integral with the casing and surrounding the base of said pillar, conducting means extending through said partition wall, said means'comprising switch contacts overlying opposite sectors of said cam, a switch for bridging said contacts rotatable on said pillar, and means extending exteriorly ofthe casing tor-rotating said switch.

ALBERT E; GRANT; 

